AT POINT STATE PARK. IF YOU TAKE A LOOK OVER HERE, YOU CAN SEE THERE ARE LOTS OF VENDORS HERE. AND WITHIN THE LAST FEW HOURS, LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE COME DOWN, BROUGHT THEIR CHAIRS, GOT THEIR PLATES FOR THE MUSIC AND THE CELEBRATIONS INTO THE NIGHT. NOW WE SPOKE TO SOME ABOUT WHY THEY NEEDED TO BE HERE AND WHAT JUNETEENTH MEANS TO THEM. REALLY UNDERSTAND THE REAL REASON OF JUNETEENTH AND REALLY WHAT IT MEANS FOR US BLACK PEOPLE TO BE FREE. JULY 4TH IS NOT MY IT’S NOT MY FREEDOM BECAUSE, YES, IT’S AMERICAN FREEDOM. BUT EVERYBODY WASN’T FREE. SO THEREFORE, JUNETEENTH, ESPECIALLY FOR BLACK PEOPLE, IT’S OUR FREEDOM. DARNELL KINZEL WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO GRAB A CHAIR AND CLAIM A SPOT HERE AT POINT STATE PARK FOR THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS. THE EVENTS ON STAGE STARTED WITH A SALUTE TO THE END OF VIOLENCE, FOLLOWED BY THE PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. WITH MORE TO COME. THE VENDORS STRETCH ON TO LIBERTY AVENUE, WHERE MANY GRABBED A MEAL BEFORE GETTING THEIR SPOT ON THE LAWN. THE FIRST TO TAKE THEIR SPOT WAS CRYSTAL, JOE AND HER SONS, WHO HAVE BEEN HERE AT 10 A.M. EVERY DAY OF THE JUNETEENTH CELEBRATIONS. COME DOWN TO CELEBRATE OUR TRUE FREEDOM. AND I’VE GOT TO TEACH MY BOYS HOW IT ALL BEGAN. SO THEY’RE EDUCATED AS WELL. RIGHT. WHAT IS JUNETEENTH MEAN TO YOU? JUNETEENTH MEANS WHEREVER, WHENEVER EVERY BLACK PERSON WAS FREE. THERE IS STILL MUCH MORE TO COME HERE AT POINT STATE PARK. THE OHIO PLAYERS TAKE THE STAGE HERE AT 8:00 AND THEN AT 935, THERE WILL BE FIREWORKS AND THERE IS STILL PLENTY OF GRASS SPACE. IF YOU’D LIKE TO COME DOWN A
Pittsburgh's Juneteenth celebration takes place at Point State Park
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Updated: 6:40 PM EDT Jun 19, 2023
Juneteenth festivities kicked off at Point State Park with "A Salute to the End of Violence" event on the stage, with a call to make a commitment on this day to end violence. "It was the day to unite. It was the day for Pittsburgh to say we're in it, and let people know across the world Pittsburgh is a united city that wants to see violence end, wants you to understand the history of where all that violence comes from and honor Juneteenth the freedom of slavery," said Valerie Dixon, who lost her only son to gun violence."We have been down here every day by 10 a.m. The festivities begin at 11, and we come down to celebrate our true freedom, and I have got to teach my boys how it all began," said Krystal Joe.Joe brought her 6-month-old son Nolan Joe and her 9-year-old son Elijah Joe-Rivers."I'm just very happy to celebrate Juneteenth today," said Joe-Rivers."I feel like it's not taught in the school system, so as young Black boys, I want them to know not everything was always equal and appreciate what you have," said Joe. "Your great-great-grandparents weren't able to be out here enjoying this freedom. They weren't able to congregate like this and celebrate anything, so it's important for them to come down here and not just have fun but listen to the messages that are told as well."The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra took the stage at 3 p.m. Ohio Players will perform at 8 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled for 9:35 p.m.
PITTSBURGH — Juneteenth festivities kicked off at Point State Park with "A Salute to the End of Violence" event on the stage, with a call to make a commitment on this day to end violence.
"It was the day to unite. It was the day for Pittsburgh to say we're in it, and let people know across the world Pittsburgh is a united city that wants to see violence end, wants you to understand the history of where all that violence comes from and honor Juneteenth the freedom of slavery," said Valerie Dixon, who lost her only son to gun violence.
"We have been down here every day by 10 a.m. The festivities begin at 11, and we come down to celebrate our true freedom, and I have got to teach my boys how it all began," said Krystal Joe.
Joe brought her 6-month-old son Nolan Joe and her 9-year-old son Elijah Joe-Rivers.
"I'm just very happy to celebrate Juneteenth today," said Joe-Rivers.
"I feel like it's not taught in the school system, so as young Black boys, I want them to know not everything was always equal and appreciate what you have," said Joe. "Your great-great-grandparents weren't able to be out here enjoying this freedom. They weren't able to congregate like this and celebrate anything, so it's important for them to come down here and not just have fun but listen to the messages that are told as well."
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra took the stage at 3 p.m. Ohio Players will perform at 8 p.m. Fireworks are scheduled for 9:35 p.m.
